Here’s how to grow drought tolerant plants for xeriscape gardens that save water. Xeriscaping, commonly known as drought-tolerant gardening, can be spectacular water-saving gardens when planned properly and maintained regularly. In a nutshell, xeriscaping is landscaping using plants that do not require additional watering above normal rainfall. These gardens are typically advocated in areas prone to drought, such as Arizona. A xeriscape garden is also perfect where the pace of development is outstripping water reserves, such as Los Angeles. Xeriscaping provides a great way to have a great-looking garden without overtaxing the water supply. Drought Tolerant Plants Save Time and Water Xeriscaping and desert gardens require a design that minimizes rainwater runoff and evaporation. Fortunately, an interesting selection of flowers, grasses, cacti, shrubs, and trees can do very well in low-water environments. This plant variety provides many exciting design opportunities for a … [Read more...] about Drought Tolerant Plants for Xeriscape Gardens
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Easy DIY Washer Repair Saves $750
It's not every day that an easy DIY washer repair saves big money. That's why I want to tell you about my recent appliance win. Actually, it's more like this: I want to BRAG about my easy DIY washer repair win. Our dependable, venerable, 20-year-old Kenmore clothes washer suddenly quit mid-cycle. It threw a breaker in the process, leaving us with a tub full of water and soggy clothes. Not a good thing. I reset the breaker and my trusty washing machine fired back up. But I knew it wasn’t a good sign. Sure enough, once again in the middle of the wash cycle, she quit. This time it wasn’t the breaker. And of course it was Saturday. Plus, I was getting on a plane to Europe the next day. Damn. Easy DIY Washer Repair Continues... I'm thinking it’s the motor or something expensive. Calling around to a few service companies reveals that a visit (not till Tuesday) will be several hundred dollars, plus parts. For a 20-year-old machine! Which means now my wife and I are … [Read more...] about Easy DIY Washer Repair Saves $750
Tree Watering Made Simple: The Root Quencher Story
The Inventors of the Root Quencher Want to Spread the Word about Deep Tree Watering to Save One Million Trees. Trees are the anchors of a landscape. Their awe-inspiring size and stature are the first things we notice about a property. But trees need special care, and trees need deep watering to stay healthy and beautiful. Quite simply, when trees don’t receive enough water, they become stressed. And when tree roots don’t receive periodic deep waterings, trees can die. Robert Summers and Maria Caceres know first-hand how devastating it can be to receive bad news about water-stressed trees. They consulted an arborist about the 50-year-old trees planted by Robert’s father on the family-owned property in Pasadena, California. The prognosis was not good. Many of the mature trees in the landscape were dying and aging out. They would have to be replaced. Robert and Maria rejected that idea. Rather than cutting down the trees, they embarked on a concerted effort to revitalize their … [Read more...] about Tree Watering Made Simple: The Root Quencher Story
A Guide to the Best Smart Thermostats
The best smart thermostats make your life easier and more comfortable. Plus, you will save money and energy. It’s as simple as that. After all, you want your house to be cool on a sweltering summer day. You also want to be warm and cozy when the winter winds blow. The last thing you want to do is crawl out from under the covers to turn up the heat. Or, be forced to walk across a hot house to turn up the air conditioner. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a smart thermostat so you could adjust your home’s temperatures from your smart phone? That’s now an option—thanks to programmable smart thermostats. Here are some of the basic things to know before buying a smart thermostat. Keep reading for our guide to the best smart thermostats that includes reviews of the best Wi-Fi thermostats to buy now. What Is a Smart Thermostat? A smart thermostat connects to Wi-Fi and automatically adjusts the heating and cooling temperatures inside your house for optimal performance. You can … [Read more...] about A Guide to the Best Smart Thermostats
5 HVAC Tips to Save Energy
Every home impacts the environment. Virtually all these households (particularly in the industrialized world) have some sort of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. It’s time to pay attention to HVAC tips to save energy. As sustainable living becomes more important, companies are doing their best to meet consumers’ eco-friendly demands. Those who live sustainably help keep the environment clean. They also benefit from saving money on utility bills. Without spending much money, you can use these 5 HVAC tips to save energy in your eco-friendly home. HVAC Tips to Save Energy #1: Seal Doors and Windows A quick and easy way to make your home more energy efficient is to seal your doors and windows. Your HVAC system’s job is to heat, cool and ventilate your home. It can’t do its job if the warm or cool air it puts out is just leaking out of your house through broken seals. Tightly seal your doors and windows. Check for cracks and gaps … [Read more...] about 5 HVAC Tips to Save Energy
